Read Cappuccinos, Cupcakes, and a Corpse (A Cape Bay Cafe Mystery Book 1) Online
Authors: Harper Lin
Cappuccinos, Cupcakes, and a Corpse (A Cape Bay Cafe Mystery Book 1) (14 page)
M
akes
24 cupcakes
I
ngredients
:
• ¾ cup + 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• ½ cup boiling water
• 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 ¼ tsp baking soda
• ¼ baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 ½ sticks + 3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
P
reheat oven to 350F
. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners. In a medium bowl, add cocoa powder and boiling water. Whisk into a smooth paste, then whisk in buttermilk until combined.
In another medium bowl, sift flour together with baking soda, baking powder and salt.
In a large bowl, beat 1 ½ sticks of butter with the granulated sugar with an electric beater for 3 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla, then the dry ingredients in two batches.
Spoon batter into lined paper cups. Fill two-thirds. Bake for 20 minutes or until cupcakes are springy. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool.
For filling:
In a medium bowl, beat peanut butter with 3 tablespoons of butter until creamy. Sift confectioners’ sugar and beat together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Spoon all of the peanut butter into a pastry bag with a ¼ star tip. Plunge tip in from the top of each cupcake to about ¾ -inch deep. Squeeze pastry bag to fill cupcake, withdrawing it slowly. Repeat for all the cupcakes.
For icing:
In a small saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a simmer. Add the semi-sweet chocolate to the cream. Let stand for 5 minutes, then whisk the melted chocolate into the cream until smooth. Let the chocolate icing stand until slightly cooled and thickened, about 15 minutes. Dip the top of each cupcake, letting excess drip back. Dip again and transfer them to racks. Using the remaining peanut butter filling into the pastry bag, pipe tiny rosettes on the top of the cupcakes.
M
akes
24 cupcakes
I
ngredients
:
• 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup shortening
• 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
• 5 large eggs
• 2 ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ¼ cups milk
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp heavy whipping cream
• cinnamon-sugar (to sprinkle on top)
P
reheat oven to 350F
. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, 1 tsp of ground cinnamon and salt.
In a large bowl, beat shortening with mixer on medium speed for 30 minutes. Gradually add sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract.
Slowly add flour mixture and milk until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
Pour batter into liners, about ¾ full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Let cool before frosting.
For frosting:
Mix butter on medium speed with an electric mixer for 30 second until smooth and creamy. Add powdered sugar, heavy whipping cream, ground cinnamon and vanilla extract. Increase to high speed and beat for 3 minutes. Add more cream if needed for spreading consistency.
Frost cupcakes with a piping bag or knife. Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar on top.
T
he Patisserie Mysteries
T
he Emma Wild Mysteries
The Complete Emma Wild 4-Book Holiday Box Set
T
he Wonder Cats Mysteries
T
hank
you so much for reading my books. If you were entertained by
Cappuccinos, Cupcakes, and a Corpse
, please recommend it to friends and family who would enjoy it too. I would also really appreciate it if you could write a book review to help spread the word.
If you like this series, you might also enjoy
The Emma Wild Mysteries,
a 4-Book holiday cozy series set in a small Canadian town.
Killer Christmas
, the first book, is a free download everywhere.
I also have another cozy mystery series for cat lovers called
The Wonder Cats Mysteries
, about three witches trying to use their powers for good in a small town near the mystical Niagara Falls.
If you want to be the first to hear about new book releases and early bird specials, sign up for
my mailing list
.
Follow my
Pinterest boards
to see the locations, fashions, and inspirations behind each book.
Connect with me on
Goodreads
or email me at [email protected]. I would love to hear about what you like about the books, what you'd like to see in future books, and whether you've tried any of the recipes. Do also drop me a note if you happen to catch any mistakes in the books. While each book is edited and proofread by professionals, errors can still slip through sometimes. As an indie writer, I want to provide readers with the smoothest read possible.
Last but not least, visit
my website
for the latest news and my blog.
Thanks and much love,
Harper
H
arper Lin lives in Kingston
, Ontario with her husband, daughter, and Pomeranian puppy. When she’s not reading or writing cozy mysteries, she’s in yoga class, hiking, or hanging out with her family and friends. She is currently working on more cozy mysteries in several different series.
